Hidden object game

ABSTRACT

A hidden object game, including a plurality of foam blocks to be hidden by at least one first player, a timer to generate a countdown timer based on a number of players in the game, a pair of headphones worn by at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from hearing surrounding noise, and a blindfold worn by the at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from seeing.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present general inventive concept relates generally to a game, and particularly, to a hidden object game.

2. Description of the Related Art

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, many people seek new ways to occupy their time. In particular, games have been a popular distraction for households looking for entertainment. Moreover, the demand for more dynamic and versatile gaming options has naturally increased. Yet, there are minimal improvements to games there are rare novelties that provides an alternative but engaging experience for users.

Some popular games include hide and seek, as well as, easter egg hunts. Both games have wide appeal due to possible discovery of the unknown. However, there are not many other similar games that require discovery.

Therefore, there is a need for a hidden object game that requires locating items and engages multiple players.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a hidden object game.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a hidden object game, including a plurality of foam blocks to be hidden by at least one first player, a timer to generate a countdown timer based on a number of players in the game, a pair of headphones worn by at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from hearing surrounding noise, and a blindfold worn by the at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from seeing.

Each of the plurality of foam blocks may have a mirrored surface disposed on each side to camouflage in response to reflecting a surrounding area.

The timer may automatically generate the countdown timer in response to detecting at least one of the number of players in the game and a number of the plurality of foam blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hidden object game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

List of Components

Hidden Object Game 100

Foam Blocks 110

Timer 120

Headphones 130

Blindfold 140

Scorecard 150

Writing Device 160

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hidden object game 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The hidden object game 100 may be constructed from at least one of metal, plastic, wood, and rubber, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The hidden object game 100 may include a plurality of foam blocks 110, a timer 120, a pair of headphones 130, a blindfold 140, a scorecard 150, and a writing device 160, but is not limited thereto.

Each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 may be constructed of foam, styrofoam, and polyurethane, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1 , each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 is illustrated to have a rectangular prism shape. However, each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 may be rectangular, circular, cylindrical, triangular, pyramidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or any other shape known to one of ordinary skill in the art, but is not limited thereto.

The plurality of foam blocks 110 may be any size, such as handheld. Moreover, the plurality of foam blocks 110 may be used as a hidden object. In other words, during play of a game, each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 may be hidden by at least one hider player.

Additionally, each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 may have a mirrored surface disposed on each side thereof to reflect a surrounding area, such that the plurality of foam blocks 110 may be camouflaged. As such, the mirrored surface may increase difficulty of discovery by a finder player.

The timer 120 may include a clock, a processing unit (e.g., a processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller), a display unit (e.g., a screen, a monitor, a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display), a speaker, at least one sensor (e.g., a heat sensor, a movement sensor), and a power source (e.g., a power inlet, a battery, a solar cell), but is not limited thereto.

The timer 120 may generate a countdown timer based on a total number of players (e.g., hider players, finder player) in the game. For example, the timer 120 may generate one minute as the countdown timer in response to receiving input from a button on the timer to begin at one minute. Consequently, the timer 120 may emit at least one sound (e.g., beep, ring, siren) in response to reaching zero.

Also, the timer 120 may be programmed to automatically generate the countdown timer in response to detecting the number of players using the at least one sensor and/or a number of the plurality of foam blocks 110.

The pair of headphones 130 may include at least one speaker, a noise canceling layer, and an antenna, but is not limited thereto.

The pair of headphones 130 may receive at least one sound signal from an external source, such as a mobile device, a cell phone, a tablet computer, and/or a radio. As such, the pair of headphones 130 may emit the at least one sound signal therein from the external source. Also, the pair of headphones 130 may prevent surrounding noise (e.g., external to the pair of headphones 130) to reach an interior area within the pair of headphones 130 due to the noise canceling layer. In other words, the pair of headphones 130 may prevent a user from hearing the surrounding noise other than the at least one sound while wearing the pair of headphones 130.

The blindfold 140 may include a piece of cloth, a headband, and a bandana, but is not limited thereto.

The blindfold 140 may be removably disposed on at least a portion of a body of the user. For example, the blindfold 140 may be worn over a head and/or eyes of the user to prevent sight. As such, the blindfold 140 may prevent the user from seeing during the game.

The scorecard 150 may include a notepad, a sheet of paper, and a card, but is not limited thereto.

The scorecard 150 may receive a written note thereon. For example, the scorecard 150 may receive names, rounds, and/or a number of points scored thereon.

The writing device 160 may include a pencil and a pen, but is not limited thereto.

The writing device 160 may write the written note on the scorecard 150.

During play, the players may include a plurality of hider players and a finding player. The finding player may wear the pair of headphones 130 and/or the blindfold 140 to prevent seeing and/or hearing any of the plurality of hider players. The timer 120 may be activated to set up and/or begin the countdown timer based on the number of players and/or the plurality of foam blocks 110.

Subsequently, the plurality of hider players may hide the plurality of foam blocks 110 in any location during a period of the countdown timer. Once the timer 120 has reached zero on the countdown timer, any of the plurality of foam blocks 110 that remain exposed are automatically counted as found. After the timer 120 lapses a first time, the timer 120 is reset and a new countdown timer is started to allow the finder player to attempt to find the plurality of foam blocks 110. The finder player may remove the pair of headphones 130 and/or the blindfold 140 to begin searching for the plurality of foam blocks 110.

The plurality of foam blocks 110 that are find are disposed in a found pile and count as points for the finder player. Any number of the plurality of foam blocks 110 that remain hidden count as points for the plurality of hider players.

Alternative types of play may be used. For example, different scoring systems may be used based on age differences among players, such as two points for the plurality of foam blocks 110 that remain hidden for a younger player versus a much older finder player.

Therefore, the hidden object game 100 may provide a new game to entertain players. Also, the hidden object game 100 engages players that enjoy locating hidden items.

The present general inventive concept may include a hidden object game 100, including a plurality of foam blocks 110 to be hidden by at least one first player, a timer 120 to generate a countdown timer based on a number of players in the game, a pair of headphones 130 worn by at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from hearing surrounding noise, and a blindfold 140 worn by the at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from seeing.

Each of the plurality of foam blocks 110 may have a mirrored surface disposed on each side to camouflage in response to reflecting a surrounding area.

The timer 120 may automatically generate the countdown timer in response to detecting at least one of the number of players in the game and a number of the plurality of foam blocks 110.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A hidden object game, comprising: a plurality of foam blocks to be hidden by at least one first player; a timer to generate a countdown timer based on a number of players in the game; a pair of headphones worn by at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from hearing surrounding noise; and a blindfold worn by the at least one second player to prevent the at least one second player from seeing.
 2. The hidden object game of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of foam blocks has a mirrored surface disposed on each side to camouflage in response to reflecting a surrounding area.
 3. The hidden object game of claim 1, wherein the timer automatically generates the countdown timer in response to detecting at least one of the number of players in the game and a number of the plurality of foam blocks. 